Redwood Headboard

This is a king size headboard made from a California Redwood slab that measure 4” thick x 34”H x 72” W. The posts are 6” x 6” x 60” Western Red Cedar. The slab is from California. Both edges are “live” (guess it was a small tree!). I hand carved the Tree of Life in the center and routed the surrounding rings. The intent was to create a feeling of looking at a reflection in a pond with ripples. I added the 2 stained glass dragonflies to look as if they’re flying just above the surface. The photos don’t show the effect too well but I still liked the piece. It was a wedding gift to my son and his wife. It was the first major piece that I ever made.

I understand the ‘guilt’ feeling. I found a dealer in California that only cuts from fallen trees or ones that the state has cut for road expansion in the park system. He also cuts reclaimed and old growth redwood as well as cedar, pine, etc.. It is pricey (the slab I used was $450!) but it is a pleasure to work with.

Great looking bed and what a hunk of Redwood. I’ve worked with quite a bit of Old Growth Redwood and the one thing that I can say about it is that it is on the light (weight wise) side. A piece of Oak or Walnut that size would have required a group of people to move :-)). It looks great though – good job.